10 Things To Know About Dutch Breakfast

When you think of Dutch food, you probably conjure images of waffles, pancakes, and croquettes. But what comes to mind for expats and visitors when they think of breakfast in the Netherlands? The most important meal of the day is filled with quirky traditions, unusual tastes, and a few mind-bending customs. Here, we present ten things to know about the traditional Dutch breakfast.

1. Some like it cold

The Dutch style breakfast is known to be cold and plain, quite distinct from the warm and elaborate breakfasts typical of countries such as the US or the UK. A Dutch breakfast will have sliced bread (usually whole grain or rye) with a range of cold toppings such as cheese, cold cuts, chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag), peanut butter, or jam. Yogurt and milk with muesli or oatmeal are also popular, although these are served cold or at room temperature.

Contrary to hot eggs, bacon, and sausages, cooked items hardly ever find their way onto the Dutch breakfast plate. Rather, even at hotels, one would be presented with an assortment of breads, cheeses, and cold meats, as opposed to hot meals. What the Dutch consume for a typical breakfast nearly to a T is also what they eat for lunch, with their bread being spread with various toppings that are generally cold, sometimes accompanied by some fruit or perhaps a boiled egg.

2. Bread is King

No traditional Dutch breakfast is complete, or even begins, without the doughy stuff. While some countries want a sausage to hang over the edge of their plate or an omelet to nestle, the Dutch have their favorite breakfast in soft white or whole wheat loaves without toasting. And with stuff on top. Toppings are usually in the form of savoury cheese, ham, or peanut butter, or sweet, like jam or chocolate spread. The beauty of bread is that you can use it for breakfast and lunch. Bread, it’s fair to say, is the most recycled food in the Dutch dietary regime – and with good reason.

3. Hagelslag: Chocolate Sprinkles for Breakfast

One of the quirkiest breakfast traditions, by any standard, is hagelslag, more commonly known as chocolate sprinkles. While everywhere else in the world chomps on chocolate in the form of cake and desserts, in the Netherlands, this is happily ingested first thing in the morning.

Chocolate for breakfast is nothing short of iconic. And, there are many varieties too: with milk chocolate bits, dark chocolate bits, fruit-flavored bits, and even orange ones to match the national colors on King’s Day! It’s messy, but it’s a cherished rite of a Dutchie breakfast.

4. Cheese Isn’t Just for Lunch

Dutch cheeses, particularly Gouda and Edam, are breakfast favorites. Slices of mild or aged cheese are laid on thin, buttered bread or lightly drizzled with apple syrup. Oh, how the Dutch love their cheeses, and breakfast provides ample time to gobble it! Do not be surprised to find a cheese slicer at every Dutch breakfast table.

5. Dairy Is a Daily Ritual

The Netherlands’ renowned cheese and milk production activities demonstrate dairy’s importance. Yogurt and milk are breakfast staples in the Netherlands. Many Dutch people enjoy yoghurt or quark (a thick, tangy dairy product) served with muesli, granola, or fruit. Oatmeal and Brinta are also popular, particularly in the colder months.

6. Dutch Breakfast Is Quick and Practical

Typical Dutch breakfasts are known for their practical nature. Almost everyone enjoys breakfast in a hurry before going to school or work, and a luxurious cooked breakfast is something to dream about on a regular weekday. The idea is to keep it simple with wholesome ingredients that can be whipped up and eaten in minutes – an indication of the practical Dutch way of thinking.

7. A Minimalist Approach to Eggs

Although a typical Dutch breakfast item like in most countries, the Dutch are very basic in their approach. Mostly, a boiled egg, perhaps with a pinch of salt, is all you need to complete Dutch breakfast on most days. If you do go ‘fancy,’ scrambled or fried are less preferred for the weekdays, but over the weekends, when people are not in a hurry, these eggs could be served.

8. Coffee is essential

As one of the world’s biggest coffee drinkers, the Dutch never dream of starting the day without a strong cup of coffee. The most popular drinks in the land are coffee, tea with milk, and freshly squeezed orange juice, but coffee maintains its position on the number one spot. Don’t be surprised if you find a new filter coffee machine or a kettle standing in a Dutch home.

9. They eat spiced cake

Ontbijtkoek is yet another staple of the Dutch breakfast table. It is a particularly moist cake made from rye flour flavored with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Cut thickly and often with butter on top, it has a slightly sweet taste. Ontbijtkoek can also be found in Indonesia due to the Dutch’s historical colonization of the country.

10. Behold the Beschuit-crisp

Often thought of as dry and dusty, in the time of the Golden Age, these snacks were prepared to exhort the long shelf life that could sustain seafarers. Today, they are eaten as breakfast or a small snack. Possibly with the addition of jam or peanut butter. You may also cross paths with eierkoeken (soft egg cakes), often on display in a typical spread.

Read Also: 10 Dutch Snacks You Cannot Miss

Final Thoughts

The Dutch breakfast may seem simple at first glance. Dutch people consume a variety of food, from chocolate sprinkles on bread to spiced cake and eggs. Whether you’re a new arrival to the country or an adventurous traveler, the opportunity to have a Dutch-style brekkie is not to be missed. Geniet van je ontbijt! (Enjoy your breakfast).